Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic Fever, once common acute inflammatory disease, characterized by fever and pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling of the joints. Rheumatic fever can cause inflammation of the heart and damage to the heart valves ( Endocarditis ). First attacks usually occur from the age of 7 to 12 or 14; recurrent attacks can occur throughout adult life. The mortality from the acute attack is low, and most cases subside spontaneously. Often, however, inflammation of the heart leads to scarring and deformity, causing the valves to malfunction. This strain on the heart muscle causes rheumatic heart disease, which can cause death in middle or later life. Acute rheumatic fever is a complication of streptococcal infection, such as strep throat, scarlet fever, or erysipelas. It sometimes develops after infections so mild as to pass unnoticed. Rheumatic fever begins either insidiously or abruptly after a latent period of two to six weeks following the streptococcal infection. Aside from fever, malai...